Links are the cornerstone of ebriefing. So if you're interested in creating PDF ebriefs, it's useful to have an idea of how PDF links work. Caveat: once you know how links are created you probably won’t want to create an ebrief yourself—unless either you have only a few links to create or an incredible amount of time and patience. To create links in a PDF document you need something more than the free Adobe Reader that most folks are familiar with. You need Adobe Acrobat. Acrobat allows you … [Read more...]
Presenting a MindMap with iThoughtsHD
I recently appeared before the New Orleans City Council to argue that food truck vendors should be allowed to operate in the city, addressing various issues such as health concerns, regulatory oversight, parking, zoning, etc. I could have used Powerpoint slides, but instead I decided to use a mindmap. I presented my mindmap using an iPad Mini and an $9.99 app called iThoughtsHD. The presentation went extremely well, and I’m now convinced that presenting from a mindmap on an iPad is a powerful … [Read more...]
Computer Dictation Software vs. Typing
Let's talk about using dictation software. It's not something that a lot of lawyers are using right now, but maybe they should. The few lawyers I know who use it regularly swear by it. I've started experimenting with dictation software and I thought I'd share my observations. I am dictating this entire passage using software called MacSpeech Dictate, which costs about $160 on Amazon (comes with headphone). It runs on the same speech engine as Dragon Naturally Speaking software, which is a … [Read more...]
uberconference: a free conference call service that rocks!
Free conference calling has been around for years, but attorneys have mostly not used it. Me included. But now, after discovering uberconference, that's about to change. First impressions make a difference, and uberconference creates a strong one. Although it's free (for the basic level), it looks sophisticated. And that sophistication is more than veneer. Uberconference has re-imagined a lot of what a phone conference is about. For example: Start a conference without having to enter a … [Read more...]
Ask a question, and your phone responds immediately.
Do you regularly use the Siri personal assistant on your iPhone or iPad? If you don’t, or aren’t sure if you have Siri, visit this Apple web page to get the scoop. If you have Siri, but only use it infrequently, you are missing out on some serious computing power. First, Siri works best when you have a decent Internet connection (Wi-Fi is best, but not mandatory). You need to enunciate clearly, which at first might require you to repeat a question or command. To invoke Siri, hold down the HOME … [Read more...]
A paperless law practice means you can use virtual assistants
Would you like help with those small office tasks that have to be done, the ones you're doing yourself because you can't find someone to help you on a part-time basis? Consider hiring a Virtual Assistant. Having the right virtual assistant can help you save time and money. It can help you appear more professional. But, for solo and small firm lawyers, a key benefit is reducing the insidious stress of managing lots of small tasks. But without having to hire a full-time employee that you now … [Read more...]
A lawyer’s guide to drafting contracts that hold up in court
Lawyers who draft written agreements have an incredibly challenging responsibility. They need to use the right words, in the right way, to define the deal effectively. In most cases, that’s easier said than done. Step #1: Consider What Might Go Wrong No one wants the deal to fail, but that possibility has to be addressed. The draftsman has to consider what happens if the deal starts to wobble, or outright explode. The number of bad scenarios can be astronomically large. Here are some common … [Read more...]
How to make a smooth transition as you start a new law firm
Setting up a modern law firm can be challenging, but for some lawyers it's relatively easy. Is there a good example of a lawyer making a smooth transition into starting a new firm? Yes, there is. David Sparks is Los Angeles business attorney who left his old firm (where he spent the first twenty year of his career) to go out on his own. David made a smooth transition, and his answers about how he went about setting up his new practice will be of keen interest to others who are about to go out … [Read more...]
The Keys to Starting a New Law Firm
Starting a new law firm doesn't require a lot of money. But having a solid game plan is crucial. The best way to develop your game plan is to talk to lawyers who've left their old firms to start solo practices. Recently Legal Talk Network's, Adriana Linares, interviewed St. Louis attorney Michael Downey about the key decisions he made in setting up his new solo practice. Michael helps lawyers charged with legal ethics violations and decided to leave his 200+ law firm to go out on his … [Read more...]
7 Keys to Hiring A Good Legal Technology Consultant
Small law firms depend on technology to keep things running smoothly. If your email system goes down, and you aren’t getting important client communications or e-filing notices from court, that’s a serious problem. If your computer gets infected with a virus and you can’t access your files, it’s a disaster. If you decide to upgrade your document management system or make a key change to your email system, you’ll probably need guidance from someone who understands digital technologies as … [Read more...]
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